Lower Lorraine

Lower Lorraine was a stem duchy of Germany that encompassed the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and northern Rhineland and France. The duchy existed from 959 to 1190, being a part of East Francia and the Holy Roman Empire. Lower Lorraine was actually located in the northern half of the historical region of Lotharingia, and it fragmented into several smaller vassal states in 1190.

History


Lower Lorraine's name is misleading, as it was actually located in the northern half of Lotharingia; its very name is a French transliteration of "Lotharingen", the German name for Lotharingia. It was created in 959 when Bruno the Great of Lotharingia divided Lotharingia into halves, with Godfrey I of Mons ruling Lower Lorraine from Hainaut. On the death of Richar of Lower Lorraine in 973, Lower Lorraine was directly ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor, and the region fell apart as its importance diminished after the 11th century; it divided into bishoprics of Cologne, Liege, Utrecht, and Cambrai, the duchy of Limburg and duchy of Brabant, margraviate of Antwerp, and counties of Julich, Namur, Cleves, Hainault, Holland, Berg, Loon, Horn, Leuven, and Brussles.